Sound-producing device



May 4'3; 1927.

L.A J. GRUBMAN 11621384 SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17 1924 w),"HHHH ATI'OR Y llili Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED sTATEsfPArENr oFFica.

i LEO `il'. GrR/ITBIVIAN7 OF BELLE ,HARBOIVL NEW- YORK, ASSIGNORiTOiVOICES, INCOR- PORATED, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION OF,DELAWARE.4

SOUNDTPRODUCING DEVICE.

Application lediDecember 17, 1924.' Serial No. 756,434.

This invention relates to sound producing the construction of which,however, does not devices,`and more particularly to that type o'i'isoundproducing devices or voices of more or less recent development in theart, wherein there is provided within a suitable casing or housingaisound receiving chamber and a gravity movable air*expelling` memberor'head, provided with means for automatically controlling the emissionof the Sound produced by the expulsion of air from said chamber Athrougha reed, 'for the purpose of articulating the sound and simulat-v ing thecharacteristic cry of the doll or otherA toy, suchl as the word ma ma?.

The primary objectl and'purpose of my present improvements isto providea sound emission cont-rol" means i for such voices thereafter during theremaining-portion ofV the movement of said member, the word"pa pal issounded. I further propose to pro-y vide a sound `controlling meanswhichis so constructed that by resorting toy very` minor changes in the partsthereof, various combi-` nations ofthe word syllables ma and pa may besimulated.

InV one practical embodiment of theinven- I tion, I provide a tubularsoundemission chamber having an orifice in its wall,t and la part on thegravity movable air expellingv member slidably engaged with said chamberwall and having means cooperating with the orifice therein to controlthe emission ofthe sound and el'l'ect the simulation of one word. Inconjunction with this control part7 a second soundiemission controllingelement is slidably engaged upon the wall of said sound' chamberandconnected to the air expelling element by means operating to `delayor retard the Amovementof'said element during the h'rst'partol the airexpelling movement of'sai-d member, and thereafter cause the tion toprovide an improve-d sound produc,

ing device or Voice of the above character,

greatly vary from suoli' devices now in practical use and in which theadditional elements employed are of exceedingly sim-ple form andconstruction so that the production and sellingcostofthenew deviceis'maintained at a comparatively low ligure. y Withy the labove andother objects in view, the invention consists in the improved soundproducing device, and in the form,construc tion and arrangement of itsseveral pai'ts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustratedi in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in thesubjoined claims. In the drawing wherein I have illustrated one simpleand satisfactory embodiment-of the invention and in which similarreference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views,- Y

Figure l is a vertical sectional iview illus` trati'ng therelativeposition of the several" parts of the device at the end of themovement of the air expelling member in one di rection,

Figure 2 is a similar view showingthe relative positions of the partswhen saidf member hasl reached the end of its movement in .the-oppositedirection,

Figure 3' is a horizontal sectional'view taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure2,

Figuret is a similar section taken on the line 4-4 ofiFigure Q', and YFigure 5 yis an end elevation.

For purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings7 I have shownAa familiar type of.voice` or sound producingdevice whereinthe severaloperative parts are enclosed within a housing orcasing having a bodywall of cardboard or other suitable material and preferably ofcylindrical form, the opposite ends of this casing beingprovided 'withsuitable end plates or caps 6 and projects from the outer side ot themember 9 in concentric relation with said opening. Through this sleeveand the air Chamber `termed by the collapsible bellows wall 8, a tubularpost 11 extends. At its opposite ends, this post may be Centrally fixedor held in connection with the easing ends 6 and 7 in any approvedmanner.

The wall of the tube 11 at one of its ends is provided with an aperture12 aiioi'ding communication between t-he bellows chamber and theinterior ot sai d tube and within this end of the tube, the soundproducing reed 13 is suitably mounted.

At a` point in spaced relation to the other end oi the tube 11, theopposed eireun'i'terentially extending` slots or openings 14- areprovided in the wall thereof through which the sound is emitted Ytromthe interior of said.

tube into a sound receiving chamber of eon stant definite dimensionsformed within one end ot' the easingr by a sound amplifying wall rlfhissound amplifying; wall, as herein shown, constitutes no essential partof my present improvements, and, it desired, may be eliminated.

The sound emission control sleeve 9- on the weighty member 9 is providedintermediate of its ends with diametrieally opposed openings 16 in thewall thereof of substantially the same circumferential extent as theslots 14 in the wall of the tube 11. r1`he wall of the sleeve 9 isfurther provided interi-orly thereof with longitudinally aligned groovesor channels 17 and 18 respectively communicating' with one of theopenings 1G at opposite sides thereof'. rlhese grooves are also in linewith one oi the slots 14- in the wall ot the tube 11 and it will benoted that the groove 17 in the inner part ot the sleeve is ot greaterlength than the groove V18.

ln addition to the setuid control sleeve 9', a seeond sound emissioncontrolling elen'ient 19 structurally separate troni said sleeve isloosely engaged upon the tubular post l1 tor free sliding' movement.This elen'ient 19 is relatively short and is likewise providedintermediate of its ends and at diametrieally opposite points with theoiienings 20 whieh are in longitudinal alignment with the openings lo'in the wall ot the sleeve 9.

The expansion coiled spring Q4 surrounds the sleeve 9 and the element 19has one ot its ends suitably lixed as at 2.1 to tht` weighty head ormember 9 and the other end thereof is suitably secured, as at 22, to theelement i9.

The wall ot' the end cap or plate 7 on the Casingprovided with the usualsound emission openings Q3 therein.

1n the operation oit the device above described, when said devieearranged in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the end ofthe sleeve 9 is engaged aOainst one end o1c the element 19, which isheld under the weight of the member 9 against the metal cap or cover 7on the easing. ln this position, the bellows Chamber is tally inflatedwith air and it will be observed that one of the slots 1li in the walloi the tubular post 11 registers with the inner' end oi the slot 17 inthe wall of the sleeve 9.

llVhen the device is inverted Ytrom the position. shown in Figure 1, theweighty head or member 9 in'imediately starts to move downwardly bygravity on the tube 11 and expel the air from the bellows chamberthrough oriiiee 12 and the sound prodneinr;` reed 1S. In the initialmovement oi the member 9, the sleeve 9 thereof moves away from theelement 19 which is held relatively stationary under the expansivepressure ot the spring 24, while the sound escapes trom the interior ofthe tube in relatively small volume through the opening` 14; in the tubewall, slot 17 and one of the openings 1G in the sleeve 9 and simulatesthe sound ot the letter in. In the continued movement ol the weightymember 9. the openings 1G will register with the slots 14 so as topermit the sound to be emitted in greater volume and simulate the lettera, thereby eoi'nplet-inp,- the first sound of the syllable ma.

At this time, the springr 2.4i is fully eX- panded so that through theconnection ot said spring, with the element 19 and the member 9, saidelement 19 is Caused to more with the sleeve 9 along the tubular post11, so that said sleeve and element are in the relative positions insaid post substantially as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings. lVhen theend portion ot the sleeve 9 moves over the slots 14 in the tube wall.the volnme ot sound emitted is airain restricted. sut-.h restrictedvolume emitted throunh the groove 18 again simulatimil thi` sound ol'the letter m, and thereafter during the interval ol' n'iovementequivalent to the dist ance bel wenn the sleeve and the element i9. thi`irrealer volunle ot sound simulating' the letter a" is. again emitted,thus comidelingI the smindiiur oll the two syllable word ma ma. 1n thecontinued movement ot' the member 9, the lower end ol the element 19movesy over the openings 14 in the lube wall and al'n'uptly cuts oillthe emission oi' sound.

As this element 19 is not provided with the grooves or rliannelsI in itsinner surface, it will be understood that the sound is com pletely eutoli". When. the openings 20. however, first register with the open ing;l-l. there is an abrupt release oli the sound and its emission, under fmisifilerable pressure in the larger volume through tbe openings tl,thereby soundingl the letter a which rontinues until the other endportion ot tln` element 19 again completely Closes the openings 14,cutting oit the emission of sound for a short period in the travel ofsaitl sleeve and then again permitting et the emission lll) of sound in;maximum @volume through., said openingswhenfthe element 19. movesentirelyY below theopenings in. the final,y portion of the air.expelling movement of themembenl).l Thus, the-phonetic articulation ofthe Word pa pa?? issimulatedand follows .in closesuccession upon thesounding. ofthe word ma mal. By the provienen ot the separate soundcontrol f clement 19 and i the spring connectionof said elenient-withthe member 9,7I secure the desired time intervalbetweenrangementiinsures the complete inflation olf` the bellowschamberwvhen the device is inverted from the position shown 1n Figure 2,

so. as to. expand tliefflexiblebellows wal-l 8..

.From the.. foregoing description, considered 1n connection with theaccompanying drawing, the` construction and manner oi"` operation. of'my Present improvements will be clearly understood.` Itwill be apparentfromwhat has vbeen said, that-by the provision orthe omission of theVopenings .16v and/or 201 and ofthe the longitudinal grooves 17 and/orIS-in oneior the other,

or both, of the sound control parts `9 and 19, any one..ofia` number ofdifferent combinations of the `Word syllables ma and pa can .berealistically sounded or simulated. Thus, for instance, by resortingl tosuch obvious mechanical changes, it is possible to. cause .the device-to simulate thephonetic articulation of the Wordsy ma ma, pa pa?, pavpa, ma ma,; ma ma, mama.; pa pa, pa pa; pa-pa, ma; pa,i ma ma?; pa pai;ma ma, pa; ma, pa and pa, ma.

However, it is thought that the arrangement which Will preferably beadopted in mostcases, is that illustrated fin the drawings, whereby`the. two multi-syllable word-s ma ma and.4 pa pai are successivelysounded in a singleioperation of the device.

Thilo I haveherein shown an embodiment of the invention, which, inactual test, I have found to be highly satisfactory, it is neverthelessto be understood that more or` less satisfactory results might beobtained by various alternative arrangements ol the several cooperatingelements and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting `to allsuch legitimate changes inthe form .and construction of the severalparts as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed. Iclaimil; In a soundproducing device, an airchamber, a reed,` aweighty `gravitymovable member or expelling air fromsaidchamber through the-reed, and means `carried by.

etlect the simulation of the phonetic-articulationof a multi-syllable w.ordand kmeans connecting said control parts with each other and,automatically acting vduring a single air expelling movement of/said4member to govern the -time of operation of said control i parts withre.spect.-toI each other.

2. Ina soundzproducing device, an aia'. chamber', areed, arweig'htygravity-movable `member for expelling air from said chamber through `thereed, independently operable ysound emission :control parts carried bysaid member and .eaclrhaving means te el'e'ctfthe simulation of thephonetic-articulation of a-multi-syllable word, andfayieldableconnect-ion between said sound control parts automaticallyactingr during-the `air expellingv movement of said fmeinber to` per-.mit of an operative movement of `one of said parts with respect to theother-with a resultant i time interval between the articulation of thewords.

Infa soundproducing device, an `airy chamber, a. reed, a` weightygravity movable member to expel' air from said chamber through the reed,a :sound e-missioncontrol `part carried'iby said member, a .secondindependent' sound emission i control part, and connecting. meansbetween said Iparts `operating-to hold the latter-part stationary duringthe initial portion of the lair expelling movement ostrsaid member andthereafter cause the `unitarymovement of saidparts With the weighty`member: during. the remainingportion. of its aire expelling movementtothereby produce. a :desired time yinterval between the effectiveoperation of said control tparts.. y

4.1 In a soundproducing device, anair chamber, a` reed, aweightygravitymovabley member for expelling.air` from saidfchamber through thereed, a sound receiving chamber having` an emission orifice. in the Wallthereof, a plurality of sound elnission control parts each having meansto. cooperate with said orificeV and-.effect the simulation of the'phonetic articulation of a multi-syllable word, and meansautomaticalliyoperating during a single air expellingr movement of said membertocausethe effective operation ofsaid control parts. in timed relation toeachother.

5;.In aisound producing device, an air chamber, a reed, a weightygravity' movable member tofeXpel air from said chamber through thevreed, a tubular guide post for said member receiving` thefsoundproducedbv said reed and havingr a sound emission opening in its Wall,structurallyv independent, sound emission control parts movable.

ll t) on said post and each cooperating with said opening to effect thephonetic simulation of a word, and means automatically acting during asingle operation of said air expelling member to initially cause arelative movement of said sound emission control parts and thereaftertheir unitary movement with the air expelling member to thereby producea desired time interval between the articulation of the words.

6. In a sound producing device, an air chamber, a reed, a weightygravity movable member by which air is expelled from said chamberthrough the reed, a tubular guide post for said member receiving soundfrom the reed and having an emission opening in its wall, a soundemission control part carried by said member and movable on said post, asecond independent sound emission control part, each of each controlparts being provided with means to cooperate with said emission opening,whereby said parts eileet the simulation 01"' the articulation ofphonetically different words, and a yieldable connection between saidcontrol parts operating to hold the latter control part stationaryduring the initial portion oit the air expelling movement of saidweighty member and thereafter cause the unitary movement of said controlparts along the post during the remaining portion of the air expellingmovement of said member, whereby a desired time interval intervenesbetween the successive articulation of the words.

7. In a sound producing device, a cylindrical easing, a gravityoperable, longitudinally reciprocating -air compressing and expellingmember in said easing, a sounding reed through which the air isexpelled, and sound emission controlling means including twoindependently acting control parts movable as a. unit with said airexpelling member, and means automatically operating to efii'ect arelative movement between said control parts during the air expellingmovcment of said member.

Si. ln a sound producing device, a cylindri lal casing, a gravityoperable, longitudinally reciprocating air compressing' and expellingmember in said casi ng, a sounding reed through which the air isexpelled, and sound emission controlling means including twoindependently acting control paris connected with said member VFornu'ufeinent as a unit therewith, the connecting means including meansautomatically mierati'ug lo effect a relative movemeiit between saidcontrol parts during the air expelling movenient oi? said member.

9. ln a sound producing device, a cylindrical casing, a gravityoperable, longitudinally reciprocating air compressing and expellingmember in said casing, a sounding reed through which the air isexpelled, and sound emission controlling means including two controlparts independently movable with respect to each other in the directionof movement of said air expelling member, and means governing therelative movement between said control parts and determining the elapsedtime interval between their effective operation.

10. In a sound producing device, a cylindrical easing having an airchamber therein and a gravity operable, longitudinally reciprocatingmember for expelling air from said chamber, a fixed guide for saidmember extending axially Vthrough the air chamber, a sounding' reedthrough which the air is expelled, and sound emission controlling meansincluding independently acting control parts mova le with said memberupon said fixed guide, and means operatively connected with one of saidcontrol parts to hold the same relatively stationary during a portion otthe air expelling movement oi said member to thereby produce a desiredtime interval between the functional operations of said control parts.

ll. In a sound producing device, a cylin drieal casing having an airchamber therein and a gravity operable, longitudinally recip rocatingmember for expelling air from said chamber, a sounding reed throughwhich the air is expelled, a iixed guide for said member extendingaxially through the air chamber and having a sound emission aperture,and sound emission controlling means including a part on said membercooperating with said emission aperture, a second independent controlpart relatively movable upon said guide and also adapted to cooperatewith said emission aperture, and means eonnected with said air expellingmember rest aining the movement ot the latter control part during theinitial portion oli the air expelling' movememl ot said member tothereby produce a desired time interval between the functional operationof said control parts.

l2. ln a sound producing device, a cylindrical. easing having an airchamber therein and a gravity operable, longitudinally reciprocatingmember i'or expelling air 'from said chamber, a sounding reed throughwhich the air is expelled, a lixed guide tor said member eiilendingaxially through the air chamber and having a sound enfiission aperture,and sound emission controlling means in cluding a part on said membercooperating with said emision aperture, a second indo pendent controlparl relatively movable upon said, guide and also adapted to cooperatewith said emission aperture, and a spring connecting the latter controlpart with said air expelling member and operating lo restrain themovement of said control part din'ing the initial portion of the airexpelling movement of said member to thereby produce a desired timeinterval between the functional operation of the control parts.

lll)

13. In a sound producing device, a casing having an air chamber therein,a sounding reed, a gravity movable member for expelling air from saidchamber through the reed, and sound'emission control means includingindependently acting parts movable as a unit with said air expellingmemberk and means automatically operating to hold one of said partsstationary during a portion of the air expelling movement of said memberwhile permitting of its unitary movement therewith during anotherportion of such air expelling movement.

14. In a sound producing device, a casing having an air chamber therein,a sounding reed, a gravity movable member for expelling air from saidchamber through the reed, a liXed guide for said member having a soundemission aperture therein, and sound emission controlling meansincluding independently acting parts, oneof said parts being carried bysaid member and the other mounted upon said guide for longitudinalmovement and each of said parts having means cooperating with said soundemission aperture, and means connecting the latter part with the airexpelling member and automatically operating to hold said partstationary during a portion of the air expelling movement of said memberWhile permitting of its unitary movement therewith during anotherportion ot such air expelling movement.

15. In a sound producing device, a casing, a bellows in said casinghaving a weighty gravity movable head, a sounding reed through which airis expelled from the bellows by said head, and sound emissioncontrolling means including independently acting parts movable as a unitwith said head, and means connecting one of said parts With said headand operating to restrain such unitary movement of said part with thehead during the initial portion of the air expelling movement of thelatter.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name hereto.

LEO J. GRUBMAN.

